Fastening-supplying mechanism



June 13, 1939. w, BARTON 2,161,845

FASTENING SUPPLYTNG MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1956 JV VE/V TUE.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENING- SUPPLYING lVIECHANISM Application August 25, 1936, Serial No. 97,790

In Great Britain October 8, 1935 13 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for supplying fastenings and is illustrated herein as embodied in a fastening supplying mechanism of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,129,882, granted March 2, 1915, on an application of R F. McFeely.

Mechanism of the type illustrated in the above mentioned Letters Patent includes a separator, a slide arranged to impart to the separator two complete reciprocations in each cycle of operations of the machine to cause the separator to separate and deliver two sets of fasteningsfrom a plurality of raceways, and a member or slide having two sets of fastening receiving holes therein which is movable into different positions in timed relation to the movements of the separator to receive the' different sets of separated fas-tenings. The separator is provided with oblique slots terminating in enlargements or eyes and as the separator moves relatively to the raceways the fastenings move along the slots and are delivered through the eyes to the receiving member.

Fastening supplying mechanisms of this type are especially useful in supplying a large number of fastenings in gang fastening inserting machines where the arrangement of the fasteninginserting instrumentalities is such as to require an even number of fastenings. It is desirable that mechanism of the above-mentioned character be utilized to supply an odd number of fastenings and, accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide means for accomplishing that result. To attain this object in the construction shown novel means is provided for preventing the delivery of a fastening from one of the raceways in alternate'reciprocations only of the separator so that an odd number of fastenings are separated from the raceways by the separator in two reciprocations thereof. This 'means comprises, as herein shown, a member or finger which is connected to the above-mentioned separator slide and is arranged to close one of the oblique slots in the separator and its associated raceway, and mechanism for disconnecting the closing member from the slide and for holding it in an inoperative position in alternate reciprocations of the slide. As illustrated, there is provided a spring-operated latch for connecting the closing member to the slide and a lever for moving the latch in a direction to disconnect the closing member from the slide in response to the movement of the'receiving member into position to receive one setof separated fastenings and for releasing the latch to the action drawing and pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a fasteningsupplying mechanism in which the present invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a view of apor-tion of the'mechanism. shown in Fig. 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrow A; V

Fig. 3 is a view-of the right-hand portion of the mechanism shown'in Fig. 1 lookingin the direction of the arrow B;

Fig. 4 is a section on" the line IV-IV of Fig. 2

. and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of .a portion ofthe means for disconnecting the closing member .and the separator.

The fastening supplying mechanismherein -illustra-ted is of the same general type as that disclosed in the above mentioned Letters Patent. .Such mechanism comprises a raceway block 1 l0 provided with a group of tack delivering raceways 12 to which tacks are supplied from a hopper (not 'shown) which is oscillated to lift tacks and supply them to the raceways. A separator'sli'de I 4 is mounted for reciprocation transversely .of the raceways l2 in a bracket-l6 which-is usually secured to the head of the-machine and which is arranged also to support the hopper. Secured to the separator slide 14 is aseparator plate I8 provided with separating points '20 (Fig. 2) and oblique slots 22 terminating'in enlargements or eyes 24 to permit the heads of the tacksto drop after separation through openings 25 in a member 26 and into tack-receiving holes formed in a receiving member or slide 28 mounted for endconductor or tack tube anchor plate 30 '(Figs. '1

and 4). v

The illustrated machine is provided with mechanism, which is not herein shown sinceit'is sub- -wise movement between the member 26 and astantially the same" as similar mechanism fully .55

' which is provided with the usual two sets of tackreceiving holes alternately arranged to receive the two sets of separated tacks, a movement to the right (Figs. 2 and 3) near the end of the first complete reciprocation of the separator slide I4 to position one set of tack-receiving holes in alinement with the openings 25 and then a movement to the left near the end of the second complete reciprocation of the slide I4 to position the other set of tack-receiving holes in alinement with the openings 25.

For purposes of this invention there is provided as herein shown means for preventing the delivery of a tack from one of the raceways I2 to the separator I8 during one reciprocation of theseparator and for permitting a tack to be delivered by that raceway to the separator during the next reciprocation of the separator. This means comprises a closing'member or'finger 32 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is arranged to be connected to the separator slide I4 for movement therewith during its f rst reciprocation and which acts to close one of the oblique slots 22 in the separator and its associated raceway I2 and is disconnected from the separator slide just prior to its second reciprocation to permit that oblique slot to receive a tack for its associated raceway during the second reciprocation of the separator slide. The

"member 32 is mounted in a guideway 34 (Fig. 4)

formed by the separator slide I4 and a clamp 36 secured to the slide by a screw 38. Pivotally connected to the member 32 is a latch 48 (Fig. 3) having its tooth-shaped end 42 arranged to engage a similarly shaped projection 44 on the clamp 36. A flat spring 46 (Figs. 2 and 3)-fa'stened to the member 32 by a screw 48 acts to hold the tooth-shaped end of the latch in engagement with the projection 44. The member 32 has a comparatively thin nose portion 58 (Figs. 2 and 4) which, when the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. '2, engages the inner beveled edge face 52 of the separator I8 and acts to close the righthand oblique slot 22 in the separator. Formed in the end face of the raceway block II] is a-slot 53 to receive the nose portion 58 of the member 32, this nose portion being shaped, as illustrated, to engage the shank portion of the lowermost tack in the right-hand end raceway I2 under the head of the tack and tomove the tacks upwardly along the raceway as the member 32 is moved to the left (Fig. 2) with the separator slide I4 during its first reciprocation.

For disconnecting the member 32 from the separator slide I4 there is provided a bell-crank lever 54 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is pivotally con- -nected at 56 to a bracket 58 secured to the bracket I6. The bell-crank lever 54 has an upwardly extending arm 60 arranged to engage a downwardly extending arm'62 on the latch member 48, and a depending arm 64carrying an adjustable screw 66 arranged to engage the end 'face68 of the receiving member '28, a nut I8 being provided for holding the screw 66 in adjusted position. Projecting from the member 32 is a pin I2 between which and a pin 14 carried by the bracket 58 there extends a spring I6. As previously pointed out, near the end of the first reciprocation of the separator slide I4 and separator I8 the fastening receiving member 28 receives a movement to the right (Figs. 2 and 3) to position one set of tackreceiving holes in it in alinement with the openings 25 in the member 26 to receive the first set of separated tacks. As the member 28 moves to the right the bell-crank lever 54 receives a swinging movement in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3). As the bell-crank lever 54 is swung in a counterclockwise direction it acts by engagement with the arm 62 to swing the latch 48 in a direction to move its tooth-shaped end 42 out of engagement with the abutment 44, thereby disconnecting the member 32 from the separator slide I4. Y It will be understood that the movement of the member 28 to the right is'completed after a set of tacks has been separated by the separator I8 but before the slide I4 completes its movement to the right to permit the separated tacks to drop through the eyes 24 and openings into the receiving holes in the member 28. 'There- 25 after, as the separator slide I4 is again moved to the left the abutment 44 is moved away from beneath the tooth-shaped end 42 of the latch 48, the spring I6 acting then to hold the member 32 in engagement with a shoulder I8 on the bracket 58, and the fastening-receiving member 28 acting through the adjustable screw 66 and bell-crank lever 54 to hold the latch against the resistance of the spring 46 in the position shownin Fig. 5. As the fastening-receiving member'28 is moved 3 to the left during the second reciprocation of the separator slide I4 to bring its second series of tackreceiving holes into alinement with the openings 25 in the member 26, the bell-crank lever 54'is swung in a clockwise direction by the swinging of the latch 40 under theinfiuence of the spring 46, this swinging movement of the latch being limited by the engagement of the latch wlth'a pin 88 carried by the member 32 (Fig. 3). Thereafter as the separator slide completes its movement to the right to separate a tack from each of the raceways I2 the inclined face 82 (Fig.5) of the projection 44 acts by engagement with the inclined face 84 on the latch to raise the latch against the resistance of the spring 46 as thez projection 44 passes under the tooth-shaped end 42 of the latch so that the member 32 is again connected to the separator slide I4 at the end of the second reciprocation of the slide. It will be evident that the above construction is such 5 that during the first reciprocation of the'separator slide the member 32 moves with the slide and acts to close the right-hand end raceway I2 and its associated oblique slot 22 in the separator I8, thereby preventing the delivery of a; tack from that raceway to the separator, after which, the member 32 is disconnected from the slide I4 and held in an inoperative position so that the right-hand end raceway I2 and its associated oblique slot 22 remain open during the second reciprocation of the slide I4 to permit a tack 65 to be delivered by that raceway to the separator. Thus an odd number of fastenings are delivered to the fastening-receiving member 28 and to the fastening-inserting instrumentalities of the machine during each cycle of operations of the ma- 7 chine. Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof t e Un t d St es is:

1. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways for delivering fastenings, and a reciprocable separator arranged to separate a set of fastening's from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, said separator having a plurality of fastening receiving slots therein to receive each set of separated fastenings, of automatic means arranged to prevent the delivery of a fastening from one of said raceways in alternate reciprocations only of the separator, said means comprising a member movable with the separator and arranged to extend across one of said slots in the separator to close said slot in said alternate reciprocations.

2. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways for delivering fastenings, and a reciprocabl-e separator arranged to separate a set of fastenings from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, of automatic means arranged to close one of said raceways to prevent the delivery of a fastening therefrom in alternate reciprocations only of said separator, said means comprising a finger arranged to extend lengthwise of the separator across the delivery end of one of the raceways toclose the raceway in said alternate reciprocations of the separator.

3. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways for delivering fastenings, and a reciprocable separator arranged to separate a set of fastenings from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, of means movable with said separator in alternate recip rocations only of the separator for preventing the delivery of a fastening from one of said race- Ways.

4. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways for delivering fastenings, a reciprocable separator arranged to separate a set of fastenings from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, said separator having a plurality of fastening receiving slots therein to receive each set of separated fastenings, and a slide for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations, of a member connected to said slide and arranged to close one of said slots to prevent the delivery of a fastening from one of said raceways, and means for disconnecting said member from said slide to permit the delivery of a fastening in alternate reciprocations of said separator.

5. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways for delivering fastenings, a reciprocable separator arranged to separate a set of fastenings from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, and a slide on which said separator is mounted for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations, of a raceway closing member connected to said slide to move therewith for preventing the delivery of a fastening from one of said raceways, and means for disconnecting said member from said slide and for holding it in an inoperative position in alternate reciprocations of said slide.

6. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways, and a reciprocable separator arranged to separate a set of fastenings from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, said separator having a plurality of fastening receiving slots therein to receive each set of separated fastenings, of means movable with the separator for closing one of said slots in said separator in one reciprocation of the separator, and mechanism for preventing said closing means from moving with the separator in the next reciprocation thereof to cause the opening of said slot, thereby varying the number of fastenings separated from said raceways during successive reciprocations of said separator.

'7. In a fastening supplying mechanism, a plurality of raceways, a reciprocable separator arranged to separate a set of fastenings from said raceways at each reciprocation thereof, a slide for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations, a receiving slid-e having a plurality of sets of fastening receiving holes therein to receive the sets of separated fastenings, said receiving slide being movable into different positions to receive different sets of separated fastenings, a memberv connected to said separator slide for preventing the delivery of a fastening from one of said raceways, and means operative in response to the movement of said receiving slide into position to receive one set of separated fastenings for disconnecting said member from said separator slide.

8. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways, a separator, and a slide for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations to cause the separator to separate a plurality of sets of fastenings from said raceways, of a finger mounted on said slide for closing one of said raceways, a latch for connecting said finger to said slide, and means for operating said latch to disconnect said finger from the slide substantially at the end of each alternate reciprocation of the separator.

9. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways, a separator, and a slide for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations to cause the separator to separate a plurality of sets of fastenings from said raceways, of a finger mounted on said slide for closing one of said raceways, a latch carried by said finger and arranged by engagement with an abutment on said slide to connect said finger to the slide, a lever for disconnecting said finger and slide by raising said latch, and means for operating said lever to raise the latch substantially at the end of each alternate reciprocation of the separator.

10. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways, a separator, and a slide for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations to cause the separator to separate a plurality of sets of fastenings from said raceways, of a finger mounted on said slide for closing one of said raceways, a spring-operated latch on said finger arranged by engagement with an abutment on the slide to connect the finger to the slide, and means for moving the latch against the action of its operating spring out of engagement with said abutment to disconnect the finger from the slide substantially at the end of one reciprocation of the separator and for re leasing the latch to the action of its operating spring for engagement with said abutment substantially at the end of the next reciprocation of the separator.

11. In a fastening supplying mechanism, the combination with a plurality of raceways, a separator, and a slide for imparting to said separator a plurality of reciprocations to cause the separator toseparate a plurality of sets of fastenings from said raceways, of a finger mounted on said slide for closing one of said raceways, a springoperated latch carried by said finger and arranged by engagement with an abutment on said slide to connect the finger to the slide, a lever for disconnecting said finger and slide by raising said latch against the resistance of its operating spring, and means operating in time relation to the movements of said separator for operating said lever to raise the latch substantially at the end of one reciprocation of. the separator and for releasing the latch to the action of its operating spring only after the separator has substantially completed its next reciprocation.

12. A fastening supplying mechanism having, 'ln'combination, a plurality of raceways, a separator, a slide for imparting tosaid separator a plurality of reciprocations to cause the separator to separate a plurality of sets of fastenings from said raceways, a receiving member having a plurality of sets of fastening receiving holes therein to receive the sets of separated fastenings, said receiving member being movable into different positions to receive the difierent sets of separated fastenings, a finger mounted on said slide for closing one of. said raceways, a spring-operated latch for connecting said finger to the slide, and mechanism for moving the latch against the resistance of its operating spring in a direction to disconnect said finger from the slide in response to the movement of said receiving memher into position to receive one set of separated fastenings and for releasing the latch to the action of its operating spring in response to the movement of the receiving member into position to receive the next set of separated fastenings.

13. A fastening supplying mechanism having, in combination, a plurality of raceways, a separator, a slide for imparting tosaid separator a plurality of reciprocations to cause the separator to separate a plurality of sets of fastenings from said raceways, a receiving member having a. plurality of sets of fastening receiving holes therein, said receiving member being movable in time relation to the movements of the separator into difierent positions to receive the difierent sets of separated fastenings, a finger mounted on said slide for closing one of said raceways, a latch connected to said finger and arranged to engage an abutment on said slide to connect the finger to the slide, a spring acting on said latch to hold it in engagement with said abutment, and a lever arranged to be swung in a direction to move said latch against the action of said spring out of engagement with said abutment by the movement of said receiving member into position to receive one set of separated fastenings and to be swung in the opposite direction by the action of said spring on the latch as the receiving member is moved into position to receive the next set of separated fastenings.

WILLIAM ARTHUR BARTON. 

